There is almost nothing going on in the Michigan Legislature thanks to the budget debacle. So shift your attention to the US Senate. There is action on the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of the all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Convention was created to set international standards regarding discrimination on the basis of sex and to establish rights for women. On December 18, 1979, with considerable assistance from the United States, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted the Women's Treaty.

The next step in the process is for the US Senate to ratify the treaty. The Treaty calls for women around the world to have:

• Rights to equal work, pay, benefits and safe working conditions
• Protection in political activities
• Minimum age for marriage.

Clearly these are issues which are embraced by BPW/USA. What can you do? Write the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, President Bush and Secretary of State Rice and let them know that you support ratification of CEDAW/The Woman's Treaty.

Also, don’t forget to put Policy & Action on your calendar for February 14 and 15 in Washington, D.C. I really need you there!

Susan Dehncke
VP of Legislation